Question 1

What does 1 Chronicles 6:59 mean?

Accepted Answer

1 Chronicles 6:59 lists two towns, Ashan and Bethshemesh, along with their surrounding lands (“suburbs”), as part of the territory given to the Levites. This verse is part of a record showing which cities were assigned to the Levite families for their use and service. This verse comes in the middle of a long list where the chronicler, writing to the people of Israel, details the distribution of towns to the Levites by the other tribes. The Levites did not receive a large territory like the other tribes, but instead were given specific towns and the land around them to live in and use for their needs, since their main role was to serve in the temple and teach the law.

Question 2

The Hebrew behind 1 Chronicles 6:59

Accepted Answer

אָשָׁן (Ashan): This is the name of a town given to the Levites. The word itself means “smoke,” but here it simply identifies a location. בֵּית שֶׁמֶשׁ (Bethshemesh): This is another town, meaning “house of the sun.” It was a common name for towns in ancient Israel, often associated with places of worship or high places. מִגְרָשׁ (migrash, “suburbs”): This word refers to the open land or pastureland around a city, not urban suburbs as we think of today. These lands were important for the Levites’ livestock and daily needs.

Question 3

Why 1 Chronicles 6:59 matters

Accepted Answer

This verse clarifies that the Levites were provided for by the other tribes through specific towns and their surrounding lands, rather than a single large territory. The mention of “suburbs” (migrash) highlights that the Levites needed not just houses but also land for practical living, showing the care taken to support their unique role. This listing connects to the larger passage, which emphasizes the organization and provision for religious service in ancient Israel, reinforcing the importance of the Levites’ duties.

1 Chronicles 6:59 (KJV)